Electric rail crossing



April 314, 1931.

E. L. -FAIRBANKS EL'ECTRIC RAL CROSSING A TTORNEYS April 14, 1931.

E. L. FAIRBANKS ELECTRIC RAIL CROSSING Filed Feb. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N'VENTOR www,

A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PATENT OFFICE lEDXETARD L. FAIRBANKS, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINUOUS RAIL p CROSSING CORPORATION, OF RENO, NEVADA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA ELECTRIC RAIL CROSSING Application led February 29, 1928. Serial No. 257,939.

My invention relates to rail crossings of the general type disclosed in my copending application entitled Rail crossing, Serial Number 247 ,305, lwhich has matured into Patent No. 1,729,098, September 24, 1929, and in which a pair of intersecting tracks are provided with revolvable turntables at their intersections, the turntables having grooves which are adapted to be alined with either of the tracks in order to provide a continuous. lsmooth passage for a vehicle travelling thereover.

An obj ect of my invention is to provide an automatic means for actuating the turntables.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric actuating system for the turntables; 2

. A further object of my invention is .to insure that the turntables are at all times urged toward either of their extreme positions.

My invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where IA shall outline in full that form of the electric rail crossing of my invention, 4which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of rail crossing embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings: o

Fig. 1 is a plan of the intersection of two pairs of tracks showing the electric actuating mechanism of my invention installed.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2*-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows in diagrammatic form the wiring for the electric circuits at one 0f the intersections embodying my rail crossing.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Y

The electric rail crossing of my invention preferably comprises a pair of intersecting rails having a rotatable turntable at their intersection, the turntable being provided with a groove adapted to aline with either of said rails, together with electric means for urging the turntable into either of its eX- treme positions.

In a typical installation of my electrical rail crossing, there are preferably provided a pair of intersecting rails 106 and 107 either joined to or formed integrally at their intersection with a casing 108. IVithin the casing is situated a turntable 109 preferably having a diametral groove 111 extending thereacross adapted to aline with either of the rails 106 or 107.

In order to rotate the turntable 109, there is preferably provided integrally therewith a depending extension 112 having a squared portion 113 at its lower end to engage a suitably apertured lever 114 secured in place by a fastener 116. Oscillation of the lever 114 rotates the turntable 109. In order to insure that the groove 111 is in exact alinement with the rails 106 and 107 when the turntable is in either of its two eXtreme positions, a stop is preferably provided on the extension 112 comprising a projection 117 operating in a cylindrical slot 118 provided in the casing 108. y

Means are provided for actuating the turntables electrically. Preferably, linkage 119 joins aplurality of cranks 114 for the various turntables 109, and this linkage can beprovided with suitable adjustments 121 in order to dispose it properly for the correct actuation of the turntables. usual mechanical means for moving the turntables, I preferably provide an electric means. This is ordinarily embodied as a solenoid 122 suitably affixed in a housing 123, the solenoid being arranged to move the linkage 119 in either axial direction to rotate the turntables from one extreme position to the other. Further, the solenoid is sutliciently powerful to transmit force thru the linkage tending to cause the turntables to rotate farther than their extreme positions. They are restrained, however, by theprojections 117 operating in the slots 118. In this manner, the grooves 111 cannot be in misalinement with the rails, as the urging of the sole- Instead of the noid always causes the facesl of the projections 117 to seat irmly'against the faces o the slots 118. 'v

" In order to prevent movement of the linkf age accidentally, there is provided an interlock whi'chiusually includes .a solenoid 124 controlling the movement of la Lplu-nger 126 adapted tol pass thru suitable perorations 127 inthe .linkagei Whenthe plunger isshot Thome thru .the peroratfions, 1the'linkafglne 119 is incapable ofl movement and the-plunger must be'withdrawn prior to operation of theY turntables.

' Vpositioned -in accordance with 'the requiren "ments offtraic passing -a'longthe'tradks 106 Y *1.20

Asshown in Fig. 3,1 preferably provide means for automatically actuating the vari; yous isolenoids 122 and 124 Ain proper `sequence lso that the turntables will automatically 'be v ;pl'ungers126 r'omthe aperti-ues 127.v This circuit is completed 'when ra Vvehicle Vpasses along ,thetrack 107, for instance, .andum locks the linkage 119.'` Additionalmovem'ent p' :of the 4vehicle'aloiig "tlfe ltrack :c afuses the xtrolley v"to :close y `a circuit through 'a contact 138 thereby energizing fcertainfcoils 134. of the ,main soia-wies ifea. Vlrrh@ energized asientan Lattuate the linkage V'119 to revolve 'the vturnfta-bles 109 in lsuch aV man-ner that the grooves 11l1fjali-ne-4 with fthe tracks 107. Further progress of vthe vehicle causes a circuit to fbe complete-d thru V-a contact 136 whichenerg'iz-es 245` l A similar ope-rationoccurs when a vehicle coils 137 of sdlenoids124, causing-the iplfung ers 126 to'fbe shot home-thru the per-felations 127 'in 'the' linkage. VThe turntables 109 are ,first properly positioned and then locked :against turther `rotation during lthe passag oi: a Vvehicle across the intersection. Y

` approaches on l-trac-k 1'0'6. A-circuitisclosed fthru"ascontact141-l which with-draws the yplunge'rs'12`6from the apertures 1127. Then a Contact 142 V'closes -a Acircuit whichene'rgizes trical rail crossing oimy invention, there is no manual supervision required'and furthermore, there is assurance that despite possible maladjustment ofthe linkage, theV solenoids always tend to cause the turntables to move into their extreme positions fto provide perrails.

Iclaim; s v I Y y v.1. `electricrail.crossingcomprising a casing at Ythe intersection of two rails, a turntable `said casing, said turntable having a groove adapted to aline with either of said rails, tor rotating said turntable, means for locking said linkage, a solenoid -torioclki-ngiandunlocking-saidl'oekingmeans,

an'deasdlenoid T or aetuatingsaiid 2. An electric rail fcrossin'g 'comprisinga easing atthe'intersection oftworails, a turntable in l-saiiil icasing, 4said turntableffhaving a groove `adapted to aline ywith -either "of Fsaid rails, a li-nk for rot-ati'I-lg said turntable, .Ja plunger :adapted Sto restrain'said 1li-n1( against movement by engaging lan Kaperture therein., a solenoid f"for withdrawing s'aiel plunger .fffrom said aperture, and orreturningsai'd plunge-r to engage another aperture in said link, and a solenoid tor xa'ctuating'said llink.-

y Y 3. An lelectricv rail crossing-'comprisinga casing at the intersectionfof ftwofrails, a turntable in said casing, -saidturntaible having 'a groove adapted to align ywith either fofsaid rails, a link torY rotating'sa'd turntafbiley bef tween -Atwo extreme positions, `'a 1solenoid for actuating 'said llink tending to rotate said turntable 'beyond said -fektreine position, means Von said turntable enga'gmg lsaid casing to vlimit 'the movement' of isaid 5v,turntable 'a't either of saideirtrerne positions, a jplfunger adapted to restrain said against movement lby enga-ging Ian aperture therein'when Vsaid turntabfle is at one of saidfe'ii-trern-e 'posi/- tions, anda solenoid *for `-witfhdrawlinf'g said 'plunge-r trom said aperture and torjreturi-V ing'said plungerthereto. Y

- vtestimony reoJf,I have hereunitorset my hand;

coils 143 inthe -solenoids 122 tending to 11n-ove v the linkage properly to revolve the turntables 109 `with the grooves 111 correct alineI-nent Y with `the rails 106. AFurther progress 'of the vehicle ycauses a .circuit l-to 'be closed byfmeans of 'a'gconta'ct 144 whichaga'i-n lpositions `the plungerswithin the perorations preventing s Vfurtherl movement of the linkage.

" Itl be appreciated' that suitable lcircuits can be provided so that the solenoid-s willbe actu-atefcl'byvehicles approaching *from reitherdirection .on either-of the tracksv and v that various circuits can be providedl ier actuating all of the intersections arranged in the manner shown in Figil. `W'ith the elecnnwnnn rninnnnies. ,l

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